67
Furthermore, in the hundred threescore and fifth year came Demetrius, son of Demetrius, out of Crete into the land of his fathers.
68
When King Alexander heard of it, he was very sorry and returned into Antioch.
69
Then Demetrius made Apollonius, the governor of Coelesyria, his general, who gathered together a great host and encamped in Jamnia, and sent unto Jonathan the high priest, saying,
70
"Thou alone liftest up thyself against us, and I am laughed to scorn for thy sake, and reproached. And why dost thou vaunt thy power against us in the mountains?
71
Now therefore, if thou trustest in thine own strength, come down to us into the plain field, and there let us try the matter together; for with me is the power of the cities.
72
Ask and learn who I am, and the rest who take our part. And they shall tell thee that thy foot is not able to stand before our face; for thy fathers have been twice put to flight in their own land.
73
Therefore now thou shalt not be able to abide the horsemen and so great a power in the plain, where is neither stone nor flint, nor place to flee unto."
74
So when Jonathan heard these words of Apollonius, he was moved in his mind and, choosing ten thousand men, he went out of Jerusalem where Simon his brother met him to help him.
75
And he pitched his tents against Joppa; but they of Joppa shut him out of the city, because Apollonius had a garrison there.
76
Then Jonathan laid siege against it, whereupon they of the city let him in out of fear; and so Jonathan won Joppa.
77
When Apollonius heard thereof, he took three thousand horsemen with a great host of footmen, and went to Azotus as though he would pass through it, and thereupon drew forth into the plain, because he had a great number of horsemen in whom he put his trust.